It Isn't Always Pretty

The first good snowfall hit and our historic neighborhood is a glistening wonderland.

Heavenly hosts, and all that.

But through the doors of our drafty home things are not always pretty. Sometimes, dare I even admit, the cohabitants are downright ugly to one another. There are times the pretty decor is overridden by the weeds of homeschooling and creating. There are times that the kitchen is disgustingly dirty. There are times when illness hits. I think that all of the above have applied to our home at one time or another over these last couple months. But something quite unexpected happened last week and I'm not good at talking about it. I don't know why, because I'm good at talking. About almost anything.

But when prayer is needed, it's time to speak up.

Many of you have met my parents at our market events. We host The Vintage Market at their home. Most of you know that I am very close to them. We eat Sunday dinner together every week and talk on the phone everyday. So I'm sure you understand the rattled-to-my-core feeling at learning that my dad has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. "Six months, if left untreated" the oncologist says in the middle of lots of big words I didn't understand. I find myself falling apart, tripping over pieces of me as I'm trying to keep everyone else together.

We are still preparing for a lovely Christmas and praising God for all the family coming to visit and the beautiful things about this season. We are laughing when we can laugh, trimming the trees, hanging the holly, and loving the freshly fallen snow. We are playing Christmas music, enjoying the twinkling lights and reminding the kids that Jesus is why we have Christmas. We are creating and baking and conspiring about gifts.

26 comments:

I just read your post and will certainly be praying for your Dad, Mom, you & your family, and also for those that will be caring for him, too. I lost my Dad 10 years ago right after Christmas and know it is never easy. But our faith sustains us and the promise of eternal life for believers and seeing our loved ones again makes it all bearable. May God continue to bless you & your family and may Joy be abundant in your house this Christmas!Mary Helen Patterson

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I cannot imagine how difficult this must be. My Father died when I was very young. It is good to hear that you are moving forward to celebrate even in the midst of such difficult news. I pray God's peace and grace guide you through this time.... May your faith and hope in the Lord be strong and may He walk you through the upcoming days. Praying. Blessings to you and yours!

Heartfelt prayers are with you and your family. God is the great physician....keep your FAITH strong! As God spoke to my heart in May 2009 diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer...and whose report do you believe?...mine or the doctor? Isaiah 53:1 and 5........I am a living miracle....Miracles of healing still happen! I speak healing in the name of Jesus on these lungs......Blessings~~~Roxie

I am so so so sorry. What awful news to get at Christmas time. There will be some real gut wrenching decisions to make in the upcoming weeks/months. God bless you as you tread these waters. We walked this path with my only brother last February. When you are feeling the most down lean together and look up towards God- xo Diana

Thank you for your transparency- one day all of this ugliness will be gone and only love, beauty and peace remain. Thank you for all your inspiration and for sharing how the Lord has taught you to see the world. It is a brighter place because of that! God bless your family this Christmas and may He be present in all that you do.

Prayers going up. I know how difficult it is in the midst of Joyful Celebrations to also be Dealing with the Issues of Life that aren't at all pretty. Your heartfelt and transparent Post said it all so eloquently. Sending a huge Hug out to you Virtually. Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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